What does Gandalf mean by “twice now”?

***Alcuin*** · 03-14-2015, 12:16 AM

As many times as I have read The Hobbit, I have always been a little puzzled by an expression Gandalf uses right at the beginning.

Quote:

“[F]or your old grandfather Took’s sake, and for the sake of poor Belladonna, I will give you what you asked for.”

“I beg your pardon, I haven’t asked for anything!”

“Yes, you have! Twice now. My pardon. I give it you. In fact I will go so far as to send you on this adventure. …”

What “twice”? I can see lots of times Bilbo slips and hints that he wants to go on an adventure, that his mother’s Tookishness is itching to get through. But I can’t find any two specific things that I can nail down.

How does the ’Moot count “twice”?

***Valandil*** · 03-14-2015, 12:43 AM

Because by then (the second having just happened - after Gandalf already said he would give it), Bilbo had twice said, "I beg your pardon." So - Gandalf grants his pardon, giving Bilbo what he asked for twice!

***Alcuin*** · 03-14-2015, 03:51 AM

Oh.

Well, I feel sheepish.

Thank you, Valandil!

***Rían*** · 03-15-2015, 02:59 AM

It took me a while to figure out what Gandalf meant, too, when I first read it!

03-14-2015, 12:43 AM	#2
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	Because by then (the second having just happened - after Gandalf already said he would give it), Bilbo had twice said, "I beg your pardon." So - Gandalf grants his pardon, giving Bilbo what he asked for twice! __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

03-15-2015, 02:59 AM	#4
*Rían* Half-Elven Princess of Rabbit Trails and Harp-Wielding Administrator (beware the Rubber Chicken of Doom!) Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not where I want to be ... Posts: 15,254	It took me a while to figure out what Gandalf meant, too, when I first read it! __________________ . I should be doing the laundry, but this is MUCH more fun! Ñá ë?* óú éä ïöü Öñ É Þ ð ß ® ç å ™ æ ♪ ?* "How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! ... For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside." (from Psalm 84) * * * God rocks! Entmoot : Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I got hooked! Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium, sed ego sum homo indomitus! Run the earth and watch the sky ... Auta i lómë! Aurë entuluva!

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03-14-2015, 03:51 AM	#3
*Alcuin* Salt Miner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gone to Far Harad Posts: 987	Oh. Well, I feel sheepish. Thank you, Valandil!